Italy's Sorrow A Year of War 1944 - 1945

I'm a bit of an anorak for books about this era - Italy's experience of WW2 was pretty unique and illustrative of man's courage and folly

Will do!

I bought this book from Amazon and when it arrived my husband took it first and read it avidly. He really enjoyed it, but he is a bit more of an anorak with books than I am. However, I read it after him, and I found it really readable, fascinating and an excellent book. It is particularly good because the author has used sources such as people's letters and diaries which make it very real from the perspective of all sides. I would say though that a more comprehensive map helped me to be certain what was happening and where! It has made me much more aware of why our neighbours told us various tales of life during the War, and how it affected ordinary people here in the Marche.

My Dad was first generation Italian/American and was sent to Southern Italy (just around the corner from where his Mom and Dad came from!) during the war. He was a medical administrative officer and was attached to an Army Field Hospital in both Cherignola and Spinazzola from 1943 to 1945. I have many, many letters he wrote home during those years that I typed and put onto a disc that I can now email to people. If you are interested, I would be more than happy to forward. Also, thanks for the book suggestion...I will have to find it!

My other half would be really intersted if you could send it to me. His father landed at Salerno then later was sent to Sorrento and then back home ill - hence our love of Italy after all his tales.Think you can send me a PM for my email address.

Excellent book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading (but not easy!).A comment would be that there was for me rather too much military stuff (the 5th Division was then moved onto the left flank etc) and not enough about the impact of the war on the civilians, partisans etc (although this is well covered).It certainly, however, gives you great insight into what the Italians went through being occupied, then in a war zone and finally liberated.

Wishing not to appear too thick, is this the title of the book? I have been away for three weeks and everything on this forum has been rtransformed... while away did call into Cassino and we drove up to the Abbey but everythign was shut for lunch... drove through Salerno a few times, and saw quite a few war memorials in small towns in Campania, one can feel there was a very dramatic story and I would love to know more. Will try the title on Amazon.